In order to tell you about the best day, I must first summarize the worst.

Seemingly (that is, objectively) it was a very successful day. I spent it with friends, at a picnic. The weather was wonderful. But right at the start of this al fresco party, I was disturbed by an event (or rather, a lack thereof). Lo and behold: someone said something hilarious, then someone else followed with a funny phrase, and finally everyone laughed out loud. No wonder, they did—it was very funny. Then, suddenly, a wonderful, laconic punch line popped into my head. In a new way, it merged the two previous jokes, showing their hidden aspects, blooming and bursting with numerous meanings. I was about to deliver that royal punchline when someone interrupted me and directed the flow of conversation in an entirely different direction. And I was left behind with this—never born—pearl of mine.